Shloka 8
कर्णभीमयुद्धम्
Karna–Bhīma Combat Report
तंतु प्रत्युद्ययौ शीघ्र क्षेमधूर्तिमहायशा: । विमुज्चन् निशितान् बाणान् शतशो5थ सहस्रश:,उस समय महायशस्वी क्षेमधूर्ति सैकड़ों और हजारों तीखे बाण छोड़ते हुए शीघ्रतापूर्वक बृहत्क्षत्रका सामना करनेके लिये गये
taṁ tu pratyudyayau śīghraṁ kṣemadhūrtir mahāyaśāḥ | vimuñcan niśitān bāṇān śataśo ’tha sahasraśaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the illustrious Kṣemadhūrti swiftly advanced to meet him, releasing sharp arrows—by the hundreds and then by the thousands—pressing the battle forward with relentless force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos in epic warfare: decisive engagement and unwavering resolve. Ethically, it reflects how martial duty (svadharma) is expressed through courage and readiness to confront an opponent, even as the narrative also shows how violence rapidly escalates once combat is joined.
Sañjaya reports that the famed warrior Kṣemadhūrti quickly moves forward to meet his opponent and showers him with sharp arrows in massive volleys—hundreds and thousands—signaling an intense counter-advance in the battle.